What does authentic LGBTQ+ Allyship really look like?

It's not uncommon to feel a sense of uncertainty when it comes to talking about or showing support for the LGBTQ+ community. There's a fear of saying the wrong thing and a sense of being unsure about where to look for news and information. It can be difficult to know how to be an authentic ally, and despite the many steps that have been taken in the right direction, this fear often makes the gap for those in the queer community feel even more prominent.

What is authentic allyship?

To gain some insights into how we can all create truly inclusive workplaces, PepTalk spoke to Ben Hunte, then the BBC's first LGBT Correspondent and now an anchor and correspondent at CNN International. Ben shared his thoughts on the practical steps we can all take to support the LGBTQ+ community and build an environment of acceptance and inclusivity at work.

What you can do as an individual

Empathise and respect

The key to all of this is understanding and empathising with the struggles members of the LGBTQ+ community face. Understanding the human aspects of being part of the community can really help to change your perspective. That level of empathy and respect goes for pronouns too. "If someone's asked for specific pronouns to be used then please take them seriously." How you're addressed can have a massive impact on how members of the community think or feel.

What you can do as a leader

Don't back away from deeper questions

As a manager or leader, having empathy is one thing, but looking out for your team is another. Ben suggests going deeper than surface level, "It's about speaking to people and asking how they actually are. If I want a reaction from someone, I'll always ask twice. Asking those deeper questions is really key." To lead, you need trust and respect from every member of your team, so checking in on their wellbeing is essential, especially for those in the LGBTQ+ community.

Seek advice from an expert

Sometimes we don't know all of the answers. Ben says to speak to members of the community who want to help, "If you're genuinely worried about making mistakes just speak to people like me. Slide into some DMs, drop an email, just reach out. Don't struggle in silence, speak to people about it." Also remember it's no one's job to educate you. If they don't reply or don't have the time, respect that. You can try asking someone else or reach out to specific LGBTQ+ organisations for assistance.

What you can do as a company

Understand intersectionality

Ben sheds a light on intersectionality, "I'm not saying that every organisation needs a black, gay individuals network. It's just the understanding that when you're being encouraged to bring your whole self to work some people can't do that."

Often we see companies show support by offering groups or networks of those with similar characteristics. However, every employee is a multi-hyphenate individual who won't fit into one box but many.

"It's very easy if you fit a cookie-cutter definition of what it means to be you and the broad stereotypes of your identity. It's very easy to have those broad brush strokes, we're going to put this in place to make sure that person feels supported but for me, I really needed a bit deeper digging from my workplace," Ben says. And whilst there isn't a simple answer to this, what we can glean from Ben's experiences is that employees should be viewed on an individual level, and this is supported by the overall culture of a company from the top down.

Bring in speakers with lived experience

"Have keynote speakers in," Ben suggests. "If your workplace isn't diverse, then make it diverse by having external events. It's a really great way to make sure people feel seen and that they feel understood."

This benefits everyone, not only those from minority groups. A keynote gives your whole team a better depth of knowledge as well as a place to ask questions, building a more open company culture where every individual feels seen, heard and understood.

LGBTQ+ speakers who can help you get allyship right

Eleven speakers who cover LGBTQ+ inclusion from different angles, from trans+ policy and workplace consultancy through to leadership, product design, sport and the arts. Each one brings lived experience rather than a generic diversity session.

» Explore: Speakers for LGBTQ+ and queer inclusion

Ben Hunte

Ben anchors at CNN International and was the BBC's first LGBT Correspondent. He reports on social justice, race and LGBTQ+ rights around the world, and topped The Guardian and DIVA Magazine's Pride Power List in 2020. His sessions run on first-hand reporting and case studies from stories he has covered.

Learn more and book Ben Hunte →

Danielle St James

Danielle founded Not A Phase, the UK's only charity dedicated to supporting trans+ adults, and the inclusive swimwear brand Zoah. She delivers trans+ inclusion consultancy and training to organisations including Nike, Condé Nast and Soho House Group, covering people management, recruitment, culture and policy. Book her when a team needs specifics rather than principles.

Learn more and book Danielle St James →

Mohsin Zaidi

Mohsin is a criminal barrister and the author of A Dutiful Boy, which won a Lambda Literary Award. He has been a Judicial Assistant at the UK Supreme Court, worked at a UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague, and sits on the board of Stonewall. He handles class, race, faith and sexuality together, which is what Ben means by intersectionality in practice.

Learn more and book Mohsin Zaidi →

Caroline Farberger

Caroline was CEO of ICA Insurance when she transitioned at 50, the first senior business leader in the Nordics to speak openly about it. She has 25 years in senior management behind her, including six at McKinsey, and can describe how the same boardrooms treated her as a man and as a woman. That contrast makes gender bias concrete for leadership audiences.

Learn more and book Caroline Farberger →

Alex Thomas-Smith

Alex has performed in & Juliet, Rent, Dear Evan Hansen and Bat Out of Hell, and started in television at eleven. As a queer, non-binary, working-class artist of colour, they speak on representation and who gets to be visible on stage and screen. They have worked with Warner Music Group and universities on inclusion in the arts.

Learn more and book Alex Thomas-Smith →

Jeffrey Marsh

Jeffrey is a nonbinary author and activist whose TikTok videos have passed a billion views. They have spoken at the UN and given a widely shared TED talk on self-acceptance, and they build sessions around the questions audiences actually send them. A good fit when a team is nervous about getting the language wrong.

Learn more and book Jeffrey Marsh →

Robyn Exton

Robyn founded HER, the dating app for LGBTQ+ womxn now used by seven million people across 113 countries, and created the London Queer Fashion Show. She uses her own company as the case study for building inclusivity into product decisions from the start. Relevant for product, brand and tech teams who want the commercial argument alongside the ethical one.

Learn more and book Robyn Exton →

Owin Pierson

Owin is a queer Asian-American creator with over 300,000 followers, working across identity, mental health and digital storytelling. He has been featured in Forbes and Adweek, and appeared in a GLAAD and OutFront Media campaign in Times Square. His background in psychology and education shapes how he handles wellbeing conversations with younger audiences.

Learn more and book Owin Pierson →

Laurie Williams

Laurie is a four-time Paralympian who competed at Paris 2024 and helped Great Britain to a record second place at the world championships. She is a full-time wheelchair user and disability model, and speaks on LGBT+ parenting alongside her partner Robyn Love. Her focus is on moving audiences from sympathy to respect.

Learn more and book Laurie Williams →

Robyn Love

Robyn is a three-time Paralympian and wheelchair basketball player, most recently at Paris 2024. Born with arthrogryposis, she speaks on resilience, identity and inclusion as a disabled LGBTQ parent, using examples from elite sport. She and Laurie Williams can be booked together for sessions on family, identity and performing under constraint.

Learn more and book Robyn Love →

Heather Fisher

Heather won the Rugby World Cup, competed at Rio 2016 and raced for Great Britain in bobsleigh. She now works with McKinsey, Deloitte and Airbnb on leadership, resilience and team culture, and hosts a BBC podcast. She speaks from experience about belonging in environments built around a narrow idea of what people should look like.

Learn more and book Heather Fisher →

We hope this article has helped you see some practical steps you can take today to be a better, more confident LGBTQ+ ally. Ben is a fantastic speaker and advocate who openly shares his life as a member of the community, and continues to report on ground-breaking LGBTQ+ news.

Interested in booking one of these speakers on LGBTQ+ inclusion for your event? Send us a message and we'll scope the right format and a quote for your audience. You can also call us on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US). Remember, it's always a good time to get a PepTalk!